High schools | Going to School: Max Steele, Hartley

College choice: He will attend Ohio State but is undecided on a major.

Mark Znidar, The Columbus Dispatch

Age: 18

Class: Senior

Grade-point average: 3.8 (National Honor Society)

Sports: Football and tennis

College choice: He will attend Ohio State but is undecided on a major.

Question: A hectic week?

Answer: Yes, it has been. But a friend, Dominic Pfister, and I got into the lottery for $25 tickets for ďThe Book of Mormon.Ē The line wasnít long. We didnít get tickets, but we went to Dirty Franks for some dogs. It was a good day. That was a break from the week.

Q: Tell us about your work in drama.

A: Iíve been in the musical and spring drama every year in high school. The drama this year was ď Our Town.Ē I had the main part, the stage manager. Heís a narrator, and there were a lot of lines. Honestly, memorizing the lines is going over them again and again and again. Itís definitely a process. You donít know if youíve got them down until that last rehearsal. I had a rough time with this production. The problem with this drama is getting the emotion down.

Q: Do you do your lines in front of the mirror?

A: Not too often. This is weird, but I will look at my expressions in the mirror. Then Iíll mouth my lines. I donít do it in public, but if there is a quiet period in school, Iíll do that.

Q: What was the winter musical?

A: It was Spamalot. I played King Arthur. Itís the musical version of Monty Python. I started acting in grade school. At the time, I didnít know that my dad, Bill, and mother, Laurie, acted. My dad is a lawyer, and in college he was a big speech and debate person. Thatís where I get the ability to perform in front of people.

Q: You played center on a football team that won a lot of games. How much confidence does that give you off the field?

A: I literally was in the center of things (laughs). Football is one of the greatest things to happen to me. The game has taught me so many things I never thought were possible. Iím not the fastest guy, but I would press harder and harder to make my practice running times. I was able to lower my times. Our coaches excelled in making us mentally tough and building our physical endurance.

Q: What will you do this summer?

A: Iím going to do little things that I have never been able to do because of football practice and community drama. Iím going to the Ohio State Fair. I havenít been there since I was little. Iím going to love the city. I love Columbus. I want to get to German Village more often. Katzingerís Deli is amazing. My favorite is pastrami, red onion and hot mustard on rye. Itís delectable. Oh, and put on Swiss cheese. Iíll also go to the Short North.

Q: Are you close to final exams?

A: I donít have to take them because seniors who get at least a B every quarter are exempt. Last year, I took three AP courses, English, math and history. This year, I took AP English and Calculus II through Ohio Dominican with a teacher here.

Q: When is graduation?

A: It will be May 31. Iím very excited about college. I love Hartley, but itís time to go. It is bittersweet.

Q: You played against Chase when Hartley met Liberty Union in the playoffs?

A: We did. I didnít have to block him because he was a defensive end. After every play weíd give each other a slap on the back. It was surreal. I love Chase. It was hard to see him upset after we won the game.

Q: What are the rubber wristbands for?

A: The blue is for Hartley football. The other is a 9/11 Memorial wristband. I visited the memorial. I was 5 years old when it happened. It was confusing. I remember everyone turning their TVs on. A lot of kids got taken out of school. It was a blur.

Q: What else went on during your spring break trip to New York?

A: My dad and I saw a lot of Broadway shows. We saw one a day for five days. My dad has his ways to get tickets. You walk everywhere, but I love New York. We stayed in midtown Manhattan at a DoubleTree. The best play was Cabaret. It was the best production. Alan Cumming was the lead. He was phenomenal. He stole the show. I saved all the Playbills and tickets. Iím going to make a scrapbook.

mznidar@dispatch.com

@MarkZnidar

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